Improvement in car-couplings



J'. R. LAMB. CAR-COUPLINGS.

No. 195,290. Patented Sept.18,1877.

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PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES E. 0F s'r. JAMES, MINNESOTA.

IMPROVEMENT IN CAR-COUPLINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 195,290, datedSeptember 18, 1877; application filed June 4, 1877.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES R. LAMB, of St.James, county of Watonwan and State of Minnesota, have invented a newand useful Improvement in Oar-Coupling, of which the following is aspecification:

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 represents a top view; Fig. 2, avertical longitudinal section on line x as, Fig. 1, of my improvedcar-coupling; and Fig. 3 is a top view of the link-holdin g follower.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

The invention refers to that class of carcouplings that may be coupledwithout danger automatically, the link being held in a horizontalposition for entering the approaching draw-head, and the pin dropped onthe entrance of the link.

The invention will first be described in connection with the drawing,and then pointed out in the claim.

In the drawing, A represents a' draw-head of the customary shape, withcurved or tapering mouth, being attached to the carframe and cushionedin any suitable manner. B is a common coupling-link, and O a slidingfollower, with larger front part, having curved and concaved head andguided stem, around which a spiral spring, a, of suitable power, isarranged, which is interposed between a rear plate or shoulder of thedraw-head and the larger front part of follower. The follower O isguided in its forward-and-backward motion by a pin, 12, sliding in aslot, b of the draw-head, the front partof the follower bearing againsta shoulder of the draw-head when carried too far back into the same. Thecouplingpin D drops in the usual pin-holes, being guided by symmetricalrods D, that are attached to the upper end of the pin, and moved in topand bottom guide-holes of a lateral strap of the draw-head. The pin D isprevented from being detached from the draw-head by means of nuts d atthe lower end of guide-rods D.

The pin D is raised for uncoupling in any suitable manner, either bycord, chain, or rod attached to the top ring of the same, or by hand inthe case of platform-cars. The coupling-pin D passes through a slot, e,of a top slide-piece, E, which, by reason of its peculiar shape, beingcurved under at its front end and bent down at an angle at its rear end,falls into place under the pin whenever the pin is lifted out of link,and while the follower is still held back by link, so as to support thepin until the link is drawn out. The slide-piece E rests in a concavedfront recess, f, of the draw-head, and slides in an inclined slot, f, atthe rear part of the same, the rear portion of the slide-piece beingmade heavier, to secure, in connection with the slot, the drop-motion ofthe slide, and give thereby, by the curved front end, a support for thepin until the follower is driven forward by its spring, and the pin bthat passes up through a slot, b ,.of the slidepiece engages the sameand carries it forward, so as to drop the pin on the top of thefollower, ready for coupling whenever required. The entering of the linkpushes the follower back and drops the pin, so as to couple thereby thecars. The follower presses 0n the link and forces it against the pin,holding thelink by the curved and concaved top part in horizontalposition for coupling, so as to readily enter the mouth of the draw-headto be coupled. The follower gives the link the necessary play, so as towork free in the drawhead when coupled.

To the top part of the draw-head A, above the curved front end of theslide E, is hinged a lock, F, that is operated by side handles, so as tobe thrown in between the curved end and the end of the concaved toprecess of the draw-head when the pin has been raised above the curvedend. The pin is thereby supported stationary in the curved end of theslide-piece without being released by the forward motion of thefollower, so as to allow the backing of a lot of loose cars on sidetrack, or other operations in which cars are not required to be coupled.The spring of the hinges retains the handles in upright position, andalso facilitates the throwing down of the same, so as to admit theregular use of the drop-pin. The weight of the handles prevents the lookfrom working by the motion of the cars. The slide-piece is preferablycovered by a cappiece against the entrance of rain or snow to theworking parts.

Witnesses:

J. W. SEAGER, Ems OLSON.

press with so much force against the pin while in the link that itcannot be displaced.

JAMES R. LAMB.

